Yu Young-ha "History Will Also Reveal the Truth Behind Park Geun-hye's Clothing Expense Allegations"

Possibility of Future Legal Action: "It Should Be Viewed with a Long-Term Perspective"

On the afternoon of the 24th, former President Park Geun-hye arrived at her private residence in Dalseong-gun and is giving a greeting. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Yoo Young-ha, a close aide of former President Park Geun-hye, said regarding the recent clothing expense controversy involving First Lady Kim Jung-sook, wife of President Moon Jae-in, "The history will also reveal the truth about former President Park Geun-hye's clothing expense controversy."

In an interview with YTN News on the 29th, Yoo was asked, "There were also suspicions regarding former President Park's clothing expenses. How was that concluded?" He explained, "At first, during the special prosecutor's investigation, it was concluded that Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil) paid 300 million won for the president's clothing expenses, and I recall that she was indicted on that basis."

Yoo continued, "However, later, according to the National Intelligence Service's special activity funds (teukhwalbi) records, there were also claims that some of the special activity funds were used for the president's clothing expenses. Wouldn't these conclusions contradict each other?" He questioned, adding, "Perhaps history will clarify that part. It is completely untrue."

Regarding the possibility of legal action related to Park's clothing expense allegations in the future, he said, "As I am her lawyer, I am cautious about speaking, but it is stated in the Criminal Procedure Act. The grounds for requesting a retrial are also stated, so it should be viewed with a long-term perspective."

Previously, in 2018, the prosecution indicted former President Park, alleging that from May 2013 to September 2016 during her tenure, she received 3.5 billion won in special activity funds from former National Intelligence Service chiefs, some of which were used for maintaining the clothing office. Subsequently, the special activity funds case was merged with the state affairs manipulation case, resulting in a 20-year prison sentence and a fine of 18 billion won.